November 18, 2017

3200 TAIWAN - National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine in Taipei


The National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine, resting on the slopes of the Chingshan Mountain and overseeing the Keelung River, is located right next to the Grand Hotel in Taipei, and is dedicated to the war dead of the Republic of China. Built in 1969, it recalls the architecture of the Hall of Supreme Harmony in Beijing's Forbidden City. The structure houses the spirit tablets of about 390,000 persons killed, among other engagements, during the Xinhai Revolution, Northern Expedition, Second Sino-Japanese War, Chinese Civil War, and the First and Second Taiwan Strait Crises.

The shrine was the site of the funeral of Chiang Ching-kuo in 1988. On March 29 (Youth Day, commemorating the Huanghuagang Uprising) and September 3 (Armed Forces Day) of every year the President of the Republic of China leads the heads of the five Yuans (branches of government) to pay their respects to the martyrs by bowing and offering incense. Similar shrines are located in each locality in Taiwan, and similar ceremonies are led by county magistrates and city mayors. A changing of the honor guard, similar to the rituals at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, take place at the shrine.

I don't know if the indigenous people who fallen into battles against Japanese occupants have some monument and a commemoration. If not, they should have.

About the stamps
The first two stamps are part of the series The 70th Anniversary of the ROC's Victory in the War of Resistance Against Japan and the Retrocession of Taiwan, designed by Yang Sheng-hsiung and issued on July 7, 2015. The Second Sino-Japanese War, lasting eight years, was the largest armed conflict in Republic of China's history, with the most number of casualties; its impact was profound and permanent. Victory was won at long last on August 14, 1945. Taiwan was ceded to Japan in 1895 on account of the Treaty of Shimonoseki. Following the victory, Taiwan and the Pescadores were retroceded to the Republic of China.
• A Legion of a Hundred Thousand Soldiers (3.5 TWD) - It's on the postcard 3200
• A grinning woman in the farm village carries a bumper crop (3.5 TWD)
• Chiang Kai-shek accepting cheers of the people following his victory speech at the Central Broadcasting Station in Chongqing, where he announced Japan’s surrender, on August 15, 1945 (5 TWD) - It's on the postcard 3200
• The 18th Anniversary of the Taiwan Retrocession Day was celebrated on October 25, 1963, at the plaza by Taipei Zhongshan Hall (5 TWD)

The last stamp is part of the series Wild Mushrooms of Taiwan (III), designed by Chi-jen Lai and issued on July 24, 2013.
Ramaria botrytis (5 TWD)
Morchella elata (5 TWD)
Gomphus floccosus (12 TWD)
Aleuria aurantia (12 TWD) - It's on the postcard 3200

References
National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine - Wikipedia
Martyrs' Shrine - Guide to Taipei
The Martyr's Shrine - Travel King
The Martyrs' Shrine - China Highlights

Sender: Pumipat
Sent from Taipei City (Taiwan), on 09.2017 

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